Te Mata Park is one of the most loved and visited places in Te Matau-a-Māui (Hawke’s Bay), welcoming over a million visitors each year. This 107.5 hectare park is a recreational, historical and cultural treasure. 

Standing 399 metres above the Heretaunga Plains, Te Mata Peak is both a visual feature and an integral part of Hawke’s Bay culture and history. The Park offers visitors stunning views of the bay from Mahia to Cape Kidnappers, unique topography, geology, flora and fauna, and a rich Māori history. 

Visitors can admire the incredible 360° views from the summit, walk through the majestic hundred-year-old giant redwoods, explore the Park via its extensive network of walking and mountain biking tracks, and discover the deep cultural relevance and compelling history of this special place. 

Originally gifted to the community in 1927 by the Chambers family, Te Mata Park was placed under a QEII open space covenant in 1996 to ensure permanent protection of its iconic landscape. Today, the park is managed by a small group of volunteer trustees, with appreciated help from local councils and the community. 

The purpose of the covenant is to assist the Te Mata Park Trust Board to: 

• Protect and maintain open space values of the land 
• Protect native flora and fauna on the land 
• Assist in protecting the landscape integrity of Te Mata Peak 

Currently the QEII regional representative for Hawkes Bay sits on the operations committee for the park.

More information about Te Mata Park, including maps, trails, opening times and points of interest is available on the Te Mata Park website.